Longitudinal expansible shoe tree



y 3, 5 H. c. VINING 2,707,291

LONGITUDINAL EXPANSIBLE SHOE TREE Filed April 13, 1955 Unite states i atient LONGITUDINAL EXPANSIBLE SHOE TREE Howard C. Vining, Brockton, Mass, assignor to Jones 8;

Vining, Inc., Brockton, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 13, 1953, Serial No. 348,373

2 Claims. (Cl. 12-4281) My present invention is an improved and novel shoe tree and includes a novel method of manufacturing the same.

My present invention is directed to the production of an extremely efiicient and automatically yielding adjustable shoe tree which will give most efiicient suport to the entire shoe structure to which it may be applied, and which novel shoe tree is capable of inexpensive construction by simple methods of manufacture.

It is an important feature of the present invention to provide a yielding tension which may be adjustable both for tension and size, independently of any rigid links, pivots, latches, locks, or the like which heretofore have ordinarily been employed in shoe trees and which prior devices generally utilized separate instrumentalities for adjustment and for uniting the forepart and heel part and for keeping said parts in alignment, together also with additional separate elements where a yielding shoe tree construction was desired.

In my present invention I have eliminated all such prior devices and multiplicity of connecting, attaching, and adjusting portions between forepart and heel part of a shoe tree. I have discovered, as shown in the pres ent invention, that a single spring element may be utilized to connect the forepart and heel part of a shoe tree, -which element also maintains the fore and heel portions in alignment and, furthermore, provides an adjustment for length to fit varying sizes, in addition to the very important feature of having the forepart and heel part under yielding tension so that it may be readily fitted into a shoe for treeing purposes.

In carrying out my present invention I provide a last of any desired size, style, shape, and contour which can be readily turned out in a standard type of last-turning lathe. Thereupon, I bore through from the bottom portion of the forepart into a substantial distance and at a critical angle relatively with the size, style, and shape of the last, said bore being of suitable depth and diameter so as to retain a coiled spring to be fitted longitudinally therein, said bore also extending into the cone of the last a substantial distance so that when the forepart and body or heel part are severed, the line of cut will substantially bisect the bored recess. Such bisecting line of cut which divides the last into a forepart and body or heel portion is also at a critical angle, as will be further explained.

With the last or tree form thus bored and separated, I then fit into the bore a coiled spring of substantial strength and desired resiliency, sliding the same in over the opening in the bottom of the forepart and thereupon secure said spring in the position as thus fitted by driving retaining pins in each part, which pins will pass thru helical coils of the spring.

As thus completed, the heel part may be rotated and the coils of the spring will travel on one or both of the pins longitudinally of the bored recess and of the coiled spring enclosed therein, thus separating the two parts and affording lengthwise adjustment. A closed coil at ice each end of the spring constitutes a stop against complete separation of the fore and heel parts.

The alignment of the bored opening and, consequently, that of the coiled spring therein, which spring acts to both unite and separate the two parts, maintains the two parts in proper alignment during the longitudinal adjustment, which is a most important feature.

In the operation of my improved shoe tree, the two parts may be approximately adjusted for length for the particular shoe to which the same is to be applied; and thereupon the forepart is fitted to the shoe and the 'heel portion moved against the tension of the spring to complete the assembling of the tree in a shoe. Or the forepart may be fitted in the shoe and the heel part rotated sufficiently to either lengthen or shorten the same for further assembly within the shoe.

Further features, important advantages, and novel constructions will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred emiodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is a plan view part in cross-section illustrating a shoe tree of typical style as formed, and with the bored recess completed therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the assembly of the coiled spring and retaining pins with the forepart .andheel part slightly separated, being retained in proper alignment by the coiled spring uniting them and in position to be yieldingly fitted in the shoe;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As .shown in the drawings, I prepare a form designated generally at I, with what is to be .the forepart 2, and the body .and heel portion 3, of any suitable size, style or contour desired. Thereupon I form a bored recess 5 extending from the bottom of the fore portion 2 at a critical angle relatively with the shoe design and size and atasufficient distance to extend well within the cone portion of the body and heel part .3, as shown at 6.

With the bored recess thus completed and at a critical angle as above noted, I then form a transverse saw-cut or kerf It also at a critical angle, which will completely separate the forepart 2 from the heel portion 3 and bisect the bored recess into the two portions 5 and 6, as shown in the drawings.

With the last parts still in assembled position I then apply the coiled spring 15, sliding the same thru the bored opening from the forepart into the heel part and thereupon drive retaining pins 17 and 18, as shown in Fig. 2, to intercept the bored recesses in the forepart and heel part, respectively, driving the same so as to cross said recesses diametrically and between the coils of the spring 15. I may drive these pins through pre-bored openings 16 in the forepart and 19 in the heel part, as shown in Fig. 2, which may be and preferably are driven in from the side, as shown in Fig. 3, which pre-bored openings constitute guides to receive the retaining pins 17 and 18, respectively, when they are fitted in. These pins are applied in the solid portions spaced from the line of cut 10 and thus give a strong and firm engagement on the spring 15.

By rotating either the forepart or heel part, the pins may turn on the spirals of the spring 15 in a manner similar to that of a screw and, thus, afiord the lengthwise adjustment, while the engagement of the pins through coils in the spring automatically lock the same wherever they are so adjusted. Preferably, the coiled spring is round in cross-section in order to afford less friction in the walls of the bored recess, the diameter of the coils of the spring preferably constituting a sliding fit in the walls of the bored recesses, which thus aid in acting to hold the two parts in proper alignment during longitudinal adjustment.

The relative angular position of the bored recess, or recesses, after the sawcut has separated them is most important. It is well known that the stresses on a last or shoe tree extend from the extreme toe portion to the extreme point of the curvature of the heel, as indicated in the dotted line 21 of Fig. l. and shape of last used for illustrative purposes herein, I have discovered that a suitable relative angle of the bored recess that this line of stress 21 is approximately 20 as shown where the line 21 crosses the medial dotted line 22 through the center of the bored recess.

While this angular relationship may vary somewhat with different styles and sizes, yet a range of from to 25 for such angular relation is believed to be sufficient to cover the range desired to accomplish the important advantages of hodling the two parts in proper alignment during lengthwise adjustment.

The relative angle of the line of cut 10 with the bored recess is equally important, being approximately within 10 of either side of a right angle therewith, viz. from 80 to 90. Thus the position and alignment of both the bored recesses of the line of cut cooperate in provid ing my novel shoe tree as an efiicient article fitted with the coiled spring, as shown in the drawings.

I believe that my present invention, wherein a single element constitutes means to unite two last parts in a shoe tree to serve to constitute adjusting means for lengthwise separable adjustment of the same, and means to afford an automatic yielding of the last parts when fitted in the shoe, is a distinct novelty in this art.

Also I believe that the utilization of the spring-engaging retaining means intermediate the ends of the coiled spring and which automatically lock the spring and both last parts simultaneously in the position to which they have been lengthwise adjusted is also a novelty, and I wish to claim the same and the combination herein broadly. 1

While I have herein explained that the bored recess is applied before the line of cut 10 severs the two parts, it is of course feasible to first make the line of cut 10 and then bore in from the line of cut suitable recesses,

For the particular style one into the forepart and one into the heel part, which will be in alignment and which will receive the coiled spring 15. Such alternative construction is not as desirable as first boring in the entire length of the recess and then sawing on the line of cut, as this saves handling separate fore and heel parts where the bore is made from the face of the line of cut.

While the bored opening 5 from the bottom of the forepart may, if desired, have a plug inserted, it is not necessary as this appears in the bottom of the forepart and also gives a full range for winding the spring beyond the pin 17 into the forepart.

My present invention thus provides an improved shoe tree wherein a full support is afforded for the forepart as well as the sides, quarter, and heel part of a shoe, particularly desirable for display purposes, being of the general type of shoe tree illustrated in my prior Patent No. 2,518,261 dated August 8, 1950.

I claim:

1. An improved shoe tree having a forepart and a heel part yieldingly and adjustably united by a single element, said element comprising a coiled spring fitting within cooperating recesses in said forepart and heel part, the end portions of said spring being secured in the respective fore and heel parts by pins passing through certain coils of said spring, whereby relative rotation of the fore and heel parts will afford lengthwise adjustment while united by said spring element.

2. A shoe tree construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein the forepart and heel part have bored recesses at an angle opening across the line of cut dividing the forepart and heel part, said line or cut and bored recesses intercepting at an angle within a range of substantially to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,025 Tyler Oct. 14, 1902 717,342 Caldwell et al. Dec. 30, 1902 881,338 Post Mar. 10, 1908 993,405 Prindle May 30, 1911 1,104,743 Ballard July 21, 1914 1,979,193 Dexter Oct. 30, 1934 

